Here is my specific need. I know I can connect a USB hub to a USB port on my PC and I can connect several USB peripherals to the hub; my PC will "see" all of them, I can access either one of them.

But can I do it the other way around? I have video projects on USB hard drives that I would like to access with two different computers. For example after I finish editing on one PC, I then continue with the project on a second PC to burn a DVD, freeing up the first one for the next project (stored on another hard drive).

Can I connect the hard drive to the "input" of the hub and the two PCs to the "output"? This way I would no longer have to physically unplug the drive from one computer and connect it to the other. Will this work, or would I damage the computers? Furthermore, can I connect this way several hard drives to these two computers?

At the core, I guess the question is: can computers be interconnected via USB?

Thanks,

HMMM, probably far safer to just move the drive from one computer to the other. Even if what you're thinking could work (and I think the communication from the hub is effectively "one way"), the risks that you get some sort of power/ground/hot reversal somewhere in there and fry everything would seem a bit too high. Think about the guy who fried a bunch of firewire ports...

interesting idea, if it could be implemented safely, but offhand, more risk than reward.

Another option is a USB switch. It takes one USB input (typically a keyboard and mouse) and allows you to switch it between two or more computers. Say, for example, you have two computers, but only enough desk space for one keyboard and mouse. I think it would work the same way for a hard drive, but you would have to remember to eject the drive before switching.